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White Sox's Daniel Palka: Optioned to Triple-A

by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire

Palka was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday, Scot Gregor of the Chicago Daily Herald reports.

Palka struggled to begin the year, going 0-for-32 with 15 strikeouts in his first 12 games. With Palka heading to Triple-A, Leury Garcia will probably shift to right field with Adam Engel becoming the primary starter in center field. The White Sox will make a corresponding move Thursday, likely calling up Nicky Delmonico or Ryan Cordell.

Palka went 0-for-3 with a pair of strikeouts in Tuesday's 5-1 win, leaving him hitless through 39 plate appearances so far this season. Though Palka has a minor-league option remaining, the White Sox haven't publicly indicated that the struggling outfielder is at risk of a demotion to Triple-A Charlotte. He's thus expected to keep filling a large-side platoon role for the White Sox, though he'll find himself out of the lineup in the series finale even with a right-hander (Brad Keller) on the bump for Kansas City.

Palka sits for the second straight game Saturday against southpaw CC Sabathia and the Yankees.

Palka has started against every right while sitting against every lefty this season. He's gone 0-for-25 at the plate with 12 strikeouts, so it would be surprising to see his role expand any time soon. Leury Garcia slides to right field in his absence, with Adam Engel starting in center.

Left-hander J.A. Happ is set to take the mound for New York, sending Palka to the bench in favor of Adam Engel and Leury Garcia in center and right field, respectively. Palka has provided little reason to be inserted into the lineup considering he is hitless through 29 plate appearances to begin the season.

Palka is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Rays, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Palka will ride the pine for the third time in four days with the White Sox set to face another lefty starter (Blake Snell). The 27-year-old still has a line on the large side of a platoon in right field, but his early struggles -- he's hitless while striking out nine times in 21 at-bats this season -- probably render him an unappealing lineup option in weekly leagues.